01.30.09
The Greatest Commandment
Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Mark 12:29-31 (NRSV)
01.29.09
In one salutation to thee, my God
In one salutation to thee, my God, let all my senses spread out and touch this world at thy feet.
Like a rain-cloud of July hung low with its burden of unshed showers let all my mind bend down at thy door in one salutation to thee.
Let all my songs gather together their diverse strains into a single current and flow to a sea of silence in one salutation to thee.
Like a flock of homesick cranes flying night and day back to their mountain nests let all my life take its voyage to its eternal home in one salutation to thee.
- Rabindrinath Tagore
01.28.09
Kneeling Prayer
Kneel before God, the creator and king of the universe.
As you touch your forehead to the floor, what words and emotions come to mind?
Verbally offer these prayers to God.
01.27.09
Prayer of confession and forgiveness
Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices
and desires of our own hearts.
We have broken your holy laws.
We have left undone what we ought to have done, and
we have done what we ought not to have done.
O Lord, have mercy on us pitiful sinners.
Spare those, O God, who confess their faults.
Restore those who truly repent,
as you have promised through Jesus Christ our Lord.
And grant, O merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may live a godly, righteous and disciplined life,
to the praise of your holy name. Amen.
Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, does not desire the death of sinners but rather that they should turn from their wickedness and live. He has commanded and authorised his ministers to reassure his people that they will be forgiven when they repent of their sins. God pardons and forgives all who truly repent and sincerely believe his holy gospel. Therefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit; so that what we do now may please him, that the rest of our lives may be pure and holy, and that finally we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From the English Prayer book.
01.26.09
Celtic Prayer
Holy Trinity,
Well of love,
Refresh us with your presence.
May we drink of your life-giving water,
Filling us with you,
Overflowing to all those around us.
Amen.
01.23.09
At Your Feet
At your feet, O Christ, we lay
your own gift of this new day;
Doubt of what it holds in store
Makes us crave your aid the more;
Even in a time of loss,
Mark, it Savior, with your Cross.
Yes, we would your Word embrace,
Live each moment on your grace,
All ourselves to you consign,
Fold up all our wills in yours,
Think, and speak, and do, and be
Simply that which pleases you.
Hear us, Christ, O, hear our prayer;
Hear, and bless our deepest care.
May your love to us impart,
Loyal singleness of heart;
So shall this and all our days,
Christ and God, show forth your praise.
Words: William Bright (19thC) adapted
Music: Sunrise (18thC)
Sequence: Cathouse Pandemonium, Ltd
Taken from: The Daily Office Morning Prayer for January 25, 2009
http://www.missionstclare.com/english/January/morning/25m.html
01.21.09
workers for the harvest
When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Lord, we ask you to send workers into the harvest field. We also understand that in this asking, we are some of those workers.
01.20.09
Flame of love
Flame, alive, compelling,
yet tender past all telling,
reaching the secret centre of my soul!
since now evasion’s over,
finish your work, my Lover,
break the last thread, wound me and make me whole!
Burn that is for my healing!
Wound of delight past feeling!
Ah, gentle hand whose touch is a caress,
foretaste of heaven conveying
and every debt repaying:
slaying, you give me life for death’s distress.
O lamps of fire bright-burning
with splendid brilliance, turning
deep caverns of my soul to pools of light!
Once shadowed, dim, unknowing,
now their strange new-found glowing
gives warmth and radiance for my Love’s delight.
Ah! gentle and so loving
you wake within me, proving
that you are there in secret and alone;
your fragrant breathing stills me,
your grace, your glory fills me
so tenderly your love becomes my own.’
St John of the Cross, 14th century Spanish mystic.
01.19.09
Prayers of Forgiveness
Who do you need to forgive? Ask God – who comes to mind?
Can you forgive today – take them from your clutches and put them into God’s loving hands instead?
Father, I forgive…… for………. Help me to love……. more today.
Amen
01.16.09
General Thanksgiving
General Thanksgiving
From The Book of Common Prayer
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
